Supporting stand preferably adapted for supporting a christmas tree

ABSTRACT

A supporting stand for Christmas trees and the like comprises a vertically arranged container having a conical lower part for guiding the tree trunk and intended to hold a quantity of water for the tree. The container is slidably mounted in a tubular part of a stand and a spring acts upon the container to hold it in an upper inactive position. Pivotally connected to the upper part of the stand are at least three arms and the pivoting arrangement is such that said arms may be swung radially towards the centre of the stand. In its upper part the container has openings or similar guiding means for said arms thereby causing an inward pivoting of said arms when said container is pressed downwardly as a consequence of the insertion of the tree trunk in said container the arms pressing their free edges against said trunk.

United States Patent Blom SUPPORTING STAND PREFERABLY [76] Inventor: Sigvard E. Blom, Sodermannagatan 37 116, 38 Stockholm, Sweden [22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 417,525

[52] US. Cl. 248/44 [51] Int. Cl A47g 33/12 [58] Field of Search 248/38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 248/48 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,785 5/1900 Weinert 248/44 2,237,513 4/1941 Timko l 248/44 2,295,431 9/1942 Shepard et al.... 248/44 2,464,593 3/1949 Lorenzen H 248/44 2,504,455 4/1950 Ruetz 248/44 3,526,380 9/1970 Tong 248/46 [451 May 27, 1975 Primary ExaminerWilliam H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or FirmUlle C. Linton [57] ABSTRACT A supporting stand for Christmas trees and the like comprises a vertically arranged container having a conical lower part for guiding the tree trunk and intended to hold a quantity of water for the tree. The container is slidably mounted in a tubular part of a stand and a spring acts upon the container to hold it in an upper inactive position. Pivotally connected to the upper part of the stand are at least three arms and the pivoting arrangement is such that said arms may be swung radially towards the centre of the stand. In its upper part the container has openings or similar guiding means for said arms thereby causing an inward pivoting of said arms when said container is pressed downwardly as a consequence of the insertion of the tree trunk in said container the arms pressing their free edges against said trunk.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure SUPPORTING STAND PREFERABLY ADAPTED FOR SUPPORTING A CHRISTMAS TREE This invention refers to a supporting stand, preferably a Christmas tree holder. The main object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective supporting stand comprising a container for a predetermined quantity of water and means for automatically locking the tree trunk in a centered position when said tree trunk is inserted in the stand.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the description and the claims by reference to the drawing showing a front view, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The supporting stand as illustrated in the drawing comprises a stand, generally designated 1 and comprising a tubular member 2 having a bottom 3. In its envelope surface the tubular member has guide surfaces such as undercuts 4 for detachably holding correspondingly shaped end plates of four legs 5 such that said legs may be removed by exerting a downwards pressure thereon. Near to its upper edge the tubular member has pairs of lugs 6 each of said pairs serving to support a shaft 7 for pivotally supporting an arm 8 the free end of which being designated 9. As appears from the drawing said free end preferably has a curved edge configuration. Slidably mounted in the tubular member 2 is a container which is generally designated 10. The lower part 11 of said container is conical and a coil spring 12 resting with one end against the bottom 3 of the tubular member 2 has its opposite end guided and supported by the conical outer surface 11 of the container 10. Near to its upper edge portion the container has a rim in which are provided four slots 13 each of which serving to guide one of the arms 8 which as clearly shown projects through said slot such that its free end 9 will be located inside the envelope surface of the container 10. Each arm has a projection 14 to prevent the same from leaving the slot.

When a post or tree trunk is inserted in the container its lower end will be automatically centered and supported by the conical inner surface of the container and because of the weight of the post or the tree the arms under control of the slots 13 are pivoted such that their free ends 9 are pressed against the tree trunk or post thereby effectively holding the same irrespective of its diameter. It is obvious that various sizes of tree trunks may be gripped. It is to be noted that the free ends of the arms are given an accellerated movement towards the tree trunk when the latter is dropped into the container. It is thus possible for one single person to insert the Christmas tree in a fully centered position and it is also seen that the container will automatically return to its initial position when the tree is again lifted up. In this position of the container the arms have of course also reached their initial positions which means that the stand is again prepared for a new use.

It will be noted that the stand can be manufactured at a low cost and due to its simple construction and function the stand is sturdy and reliable in use. The fact that the legs are detachable makes the stand easy to store and transport.

I claim:

1. Supporting stand for a supporting a Christman tree or similar object, comprising an outer container. an inner container, said inner container being slideably arranged within said outer container and capable of holding substantial quanity of water, said inner container having further a conical lower part and in its upper end outwardly projecting portions having slots, arms each slideably extending through one of said slots, lugs extending outwardly from the upper portion of said outer container, and each having one of said arms pivotally connected thereto, said arms having free ends positioned for pressing aganist the tree trunk when the tree is placed in said inner container and the latter as a consequence thereof by means of the gravity of the tree is displaced thereby pivoting said arms under control of said slots, a coil spring being interposed between said inner and said outer container for holding said inner container in such a position that its upper end is located at a predetermined distance above the upper end of said outer container.

2. Supporting stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outwardly projecting portions of said inner container are in the shape of an annular rin with said slots being arranged in said rim.

3. Supporting stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer container in-its outer surface has undercut downwardly opening recesses, and legs each having an inner end detachably mounted in and mating with one of said recesses with said legs extending radially of said outer container. 

1. Supporting stand for a supporting a Christman tree or similar object, comprising an outer container, an inner container, said inner container being slideably arranged within said outer container and capable of holding substantial quanity of water, said inner container having further a conical lower part and in its upper end outwardly projecting portions having slots, arms each slideably extending through one of said slots, lugs extending outwardly from the upper portion of said outer container, and each having one of said arms pivotally connected thereto, said arms having free ends positioned for pressing aganist the tree trunk when the tree is placed in said inner container and the latter as a consequence thereof by means of the gravity of the tree is displaced thereby pivoting said arms under control of said slots, a coil spring being interposed between said inner and said outer container for holding said inner container in such a position that its upper end is located at a predetermined distance above the upper end of said outer container.
 2. Supporting stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outwardly projecting portions of said inner container are in the shape of an annular rin with said slots being arranged in said rim.
 3. Supporting stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer container in its outer surface has undercut downwardly opening recesses, and legs each having an inner end detachably mounted in and mating with one of said recesses with said legs extending radially of said outer container. 